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Project summary
- 1. LEEDS SCIENCE SLAM THEPUBLIC ENGAGEMENT REPORT The Leeds Science Slam focused on working with students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds and the main benefits were a result of the cross-pollination between the undergraduate and Cathedral Academy Performing Arts (CAPA) Junior groups. Parkinson Building INTRODUCTION The undergraduates involved had limited performance/theatre and science communication experience and some had never worked with young people of this background before. Some of the CAPA Juniors had indicators of disadvantage in their backgrounds and so the cross pollination between groups allowed the undergraduates to thoroughly benefit from varied communication and performance training and the CAPA Juniors gained insight into the ‘University experience’. Their science knowledge was enriched by working with the undergraduates and feeding this knowledge into their performances, using dance, drama, music and comedy to communicate their pieces based on the theme of the human body. PROJECT OUTLINE Representatives from the STEM team and an academic from the Faculty of Biological Sciences discussed the project with 2 staff representatives from Cathedral Academy - Sarah Farrar (Science) and Helen Bamber (Performing Arts). They recruited 15 pupils aged between 11 and 13 years old based on their intuition of who would benefit most from their involvement. FINANCE FUNDING EXPENSES Wellcome Trust ISSF Fund £3000 The Physiological Society £1000 Carriageworks Theatre Hire £1140 Video production, camera hire and training (Screenhouse) £1230 Training – Lewis Hou and Sam Illingworth £580 Promotional material design and printing £600 STAKEHOLDER BENEFITS TIMELINE CONTINUOUS PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS Raised profile of the University and the team Networks with staff at Cathedral Benchmarked first Leeds Science Slam UNDERGRADUATES Interdisciplinary experience with young people Professional skills development Experience & increased motivation for science communication CAPA JUNIORS Enriched science knowledge and enthusiasm University life insight Attitudes towards the institution External performance training AUDIENCE Compatibility of science & theatre Out-of-the-box science communication Enriched science knowledge and curiosity Appreciation for similar events Increased enthusiasm for outreach Social Media Websites Email lists Posters/flyers Twitter Facebook pages: Visit Leeds Leeds Inspired Leeds List Leeds Café Scis Spoken Word groups Union building Walking routes Libraries FoBSoc LUU Sci STEM@Leeds Wellcome ISSF Physiological Society News Stage @ Leeds UG offices The Carriageworks British Science Association Sci-comm groups and lists Woodhouse Lane cafés The event was publicised using networks built by the STEM team and this was filtered down to select appropriate audiences. Media included local press, websites and distribution of promotional material, including flyers and posters, across the University of Leeds campus and the Leeds City Centre. To provide training to the groups several Science Communication experts were recruited including: Sam Illingworth, lecturer in Science Communication at Manchester Metropolitan University Lewis Hou, Neuroscience Researcher and founder of the Science Ceilidh Band Victoria Pritchard, professional actress, voice coach and science communication trainer Design publicity Prizes & monitor ticket sales Post event publicity Evaluation & reporting JAN ‘15 MAR ‘15 MAR ‘15 APR ‘15 Rehearsals/ performanceTraining NOV ‘14 Carriageworks plans NOV ‘14 Preliminary planning Contact CAPA DEC ‘14 FEB ‘15 MAY/JUN ‘15 The most pronounced benefits of being involved in the project for each group are listed below, in order of importance.
- 2. EVALUATION, REPORTING ANDRESULTS AIMS & OBJECTIVES The report will be a resource towards the establishment of a central public engagement strategy and institution at the University of Leeds and provide a basis for similar projects.. UNDERGRADUATES Provide professional science communication training and experience of working with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. CAPA JUNIORS Dispel opinions that science and theatre are incompatible Provide insight and experience into University campus life and higher education Enrich science knowledge and increase enthusiasm for STEM RESULTS & FEEDBACK GENERIC LEARNING OUTCOMES The performers (undergraduates and CAPA Juniors) were given self-rating questionnaires to score themselves on different skills. These were then matched to Generic Learning Outcomes (GLO’s) which were used as a basis for comparison between both groups. Evaluation was carried out from the beginning of the project with planned follow up after Summer 2015. Generic Learning Outcome (GLO) Corresponding skill set(s) Knowledge and understanding Practical skills Body language Skills Practical skills Presentations Teamwork Body language Working under pressure Attitudes and values Self critique Sharing thoughts, ideas and opinions Confidence Enjoyment, Inspiration & Creativity Creativity, exploration and experimentation Thinking out of the box Sharing thoughts, ideas and opinions Activity Behaviour & Progression Self-critique Confidence 19% 6% 2% 2% 6% 2% 21% 20% 4% 14% 4% Friends or family University of Leeds website Alumni email Carriageworks publicity Facebook Yorkshire Evening Post CAPA Publicity Know participant Poster publicity University colleague STEM Website How did the audience hear about the event? • 79% of those who responded to evaluation said they would come again • 39% of those who responded to evaluation said they found the event entertaining • The undergraduates reported an average 21% increase in score of their ability to use body language to communicate after completion of the project • The CAPA Juniors reported an average 26% increase in score of their ability to work under pressure after completion of the project “This was a creative project that allowed our students to work with undergraduates with lots of excellent training provided and it raised the profile of science across the school.” – Sarah Farrar, Cathedral Academy “I love the idea of getting undergraduates to work with young students and combining science with performing arts” Measurements of success Skill set CAPA average difference UG average difference 1. Presentations 0.9 1.3 2. Confidence 0.6 1.6 3.Team-work -0.1 1.1 4. Using body language 1.2 2.6 5. Working under pressure 2.6 0.7 6. Sharing thoughts, ideas and opinions 0.1 1.8 7. Learning practical skills -0.1 1.2 8. Thinking out of the box 0.9 1.2 9. Creativity, exploration and experimentation -0.2 1.6 10. Self-critique 0.9 0.5 Both groups of entrants gave a self-rated score for the listed skills before and after training in the project.